Cord preparing mechanism



Aug. 27, 1940. J. G. KERsHAw I CORD PREPARTNG MECHANISM Filed Sept. '19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 27, 1940. J. GfKERsl-mw CORD PREPARING MECHANISM Filed sept. 19.' 195s s sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 27, 1940. .-1. e. KER'sHAw CORD PREPARING MECHANISM Filed sept. 19, 1935s` 3 sheets-sheet s lso Patented Aug. l27, 1940 UNITED STATES.

PATENT oFFicE CORD PREPARING MECHANISM f John Green Kershaw, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Drummondville Cotton Company Limited, MontreaLQuebec, Canada, a corporation of Quebec, Canada f vApplication September 19, 1938, Serial No. 230,734

In Canada July 5, 1938 s claims. (ci. zii- 57) This invention relates to the preparing of cord,

especially that for use in the manufacture of tires.

'I'he requirements of tire cord production have high twist factor coupled with a definite lowy stretch capacity, incidental to which are certain other desirable characteristics.

l For the accomplishment of these requirements various methods and types of apparatus have been suggested. It is hardly necessary to deal with these` methods or apparatus which are now well known to the trade. It is suflicient to stress the fact that, as in so many other mechanical developments in their early stages, the devices remain complicated and that they still leave much to be desired in efficiency. The present invention is founded on the thought that prior devices are in the main toovcomplicated, that these devices fail to give the accuracy required K in stretch control, that in many instances, they cannot be counted upon to produce a standard product, and that they are not sufficiently ilexible for ready adaptation to the varying specifi-V is a further object of the invention to provide.

means of this naturewhereby the cord may be controlled during treatment so-that it is stretched 45 to an accurately predetermined degree. It is a further object to provide an apparatus of this kind in which the treatment of the cord results in the reduction of imperfections, and by the use of which the yarn is not injured, resulting in a better product- It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the accomplishment of the, foregoing objects which is extremelysimple in operation and convenient in structure, so that if desirablea number of units may be assembled adjacent one another' for the purposes of mass production, and in which each unit may be counted upon to produce cord substantially identical to that produced on other units. These units may be used as attachments to cord handling mechanism of a type found in al1 textile mills.

The applicant has experimented with various types of apparatus of standard and radical types which seemingly, from a mechanical standpoint,

should accomplish the desired result. Nevertheless, forone reason or another these apparatus have failed to give the qualities desired in the finished product. It is surprising how the present device, although resembling the others inV With the cited objects and others inmind the y invention is featured by means for' subjecting a considerable length of the cord to a constant tension while positively gripped against slippage, so that substantially no variations in treatment occur. In this connection, it must be explained that the usual dimculty in cord stretching devices is that slippage occurs between the cordengaging surfaces and the cord thus reducing 4the positive engagement between them. In some devices also, the stretch control is partially dependent on the condition of the cord. To eliminate this difficulty the present apparatus includes both a sufficiently long `surface for engagement of a considerable length of cord, grooves of such inclination as to increase the frictional grip of this surface on the cord without injury to the cord, increasing effective diameter in successive grooves to increase the tension in the cord thereby to increase its cohesion to the grip-- ping surfaces and increasing speeds between respective rotating members so that tension is further increased.' Control of the degree of tension is obtained by a simple but extremely accurate adjustment to alter the respective speeds of the rotating members. The apparatus is rendered operative and inoperative by a special clutch arrangement actuated by the mechanis receiving the cord from the apparatus. More specifically, the invention is featured by a pair of rotatable sheaves, each sheave associated with a guiding pulley for guiding 'successive laps of cord from one groove to the other of its respective sheave,l driving mechanism for rotating the sheaves at definite different-speeds so as vcome apparent as the features, functions, and

operations of the mechanism are dealt with;

Having thus generally described thel nature of the invention, reference will now be made to thev accompanying drawings in which is illustrated a preferred form thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticV illustration of a unit according to this preferred embodiment, in use in conjunction with a Winder of standard design.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a preparing unit, such as that portrayed diagrammatically in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction of Figure 1 to show the clutch actuator mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partially in elevation and partially in section of the crown gear, change gear and respective pinions, which are operative to drive the sheaves.

Figure 6 is a cross section substantially through the top sheave with the'clutch elements disengaged.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the relationship of one unit A of the present apparatus to a Winder of standard design. In this gure'the cord C may be seen passing from a spool I I through a spring tensioning device I2 to a leading guide pulley I3 of the unit. The cord then passes about portions of the periphery of the pulley I3 and portions of the peripheral` cord-engaging grooves of gradually increasing circumference of an adjacent feeding sheave I4 and thence on to and about portions of a drafitg sheave I5 and an adjacent guiding pulley I6, the sheave I5 also having cord engaging grooves yof gradually increasing circumference. The sheaves areconveniently arranged for threading and for continuous feed of thev cord. The cord then passes from the sheave I5through a spring tensioning device I1 to a rotating package P and is thus drawn on to the Winder. The sheave I5 is driven `at a speed greater than the sheave I4 whereby a tension is set up in the cord; the gradually increasing diameters of the grooves of each of the sheaves sets up an additional tension in the lappings of the cord, causing it to exert reaction forces on the sheave surfaces setting up a rm frictional grip between sheaves and cord.

The sheaves I4 and I5 are connected and disconnected from their respective drives through a clutch arrangement operated through a clutch actuator arm I8 which is held in clutch-operative position by an arm I9 extending from a drop plate on the Winder.

To cause the drop plate 20 to fall following the rupture of the cord C conventional' mechanism is provided. For instance, Vthe plate 20 lis journalled cna shaft 2I and includes a' package-supporting bracket 20a extending rearwardly to support the Weight ofthe package' P. The spring tension device I1 is pivotally mounted as at 23 on the end of the plate 20 and has a downwardly extending hook 24 adapted to engage a reciprocating catch 25 on a rocker shaft 26. When the cord C breaks, the tension device I1 is allowed to fall downwards and the hook 24- engiages with the catch 25 as the latter reciprocates forward, thus pulling the plate 20 downward. As the plate is pulled downward the package P is lifted by the bracket 23a and the arm I9 releases the clutch actuator l arm I8, thus simultaneously stopping the rotation of the package and that of the sheaves I4 and I5 by disconnecting them from their respective driving sources.

When the drop plate drops, the clutch actuator arm I8 is released by the drop plate arm I9 so that the sheave clutches become disengaged to disconnect the sheaves I4 and I5 from their respective drives.

While only one unit A is illustrated it will be understood that several are mounted in parallel, one to each package of the under frame.

Supporting structure The structure of the unit A Will now be described in further detail.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, this unit includes an auxiliary frame B mounted on the frame of the winder in conjunction with which it is used. The frame B consists of a vertical base casting of conformation suitable for supporting the various working parts, and of additional elements secured to the casting for the further support or covering of these parts.

At the top of the frame B and towards the rear is a shaft 30, extending transversely of the frame B, that is to say, parallel to the Winder rolls. This shaft. is journalled in suitable bearings in the frame'B carrying on one end a bevel gear 3I from which it receives its drive and, on the other end an inwardly disposed clutch element 32. Below the shaft there is suitably journalled in a. front portion of the frame B,

offset from that journalling the shaft 30, an-v other shaft 33. The shaft 33 carries on one end a bevel drive gear 34 and, on the other end, an inwardly disposed clutch element 35.

The cord-engaging sheaves scribed in detail. 'I'he sheave I5 is freely rotatable and axially slidable on the shaft 3U and includes a clutch element 42 adapted for engagement and positive drive by the clutch element 32. The sheave I4 is also freely rotatable and axially slideable on the shaft 33 and carries a similar clutch element 43 adapted for engagementv with and retardation by the clutch element 35. Remote from its clutch` face the sheave I5,is provided with a yoke-engagingportion 44 and the sheave I4 ,is similarly provided with a yoke-engaging portion 45.

'I'he periphery .of the sheave I4 is provided with a series of cord-engaging V-grooves 46, 46a and 45h, of respectively increasing effective diameters, and the sheave I5 is provided with similar grooves 41, 41a and 41]). The purpose of these grooves is to engage the cord positively and at increasing speeds so as to subject several lappings of the cord to a gradually increasing tension causing it to be frictiona'lly gripped by asaiaem the surfaces of the grooves. All the grooves are of considerable effective diameter not being too acute in curvature to give the extensive cord engaging surface required for supporting ,purposes.

For guiding lappings of cord from one groove of the lower sheave I4 to the next, mounted on a freely rotatable shaft 50 journalled in the frame B, is a pulley 5I having a periphery provided With a series of cord-guiding grooves 52 of equal diameter. Another cord guiding pulley 53 is mounted on a freely rotatable shaft 54 adjacent the sheave I5. The pulley 53 has a grooved peripheral cord-guiding surface 55 and fullls a similar purpose to the pulley 5I in guiding lappings of the cord from one groove to the next of the sheave I5.

Clutch actuator mechanism Mechanism is provided for rendering operative or inoperative the clutch arrangement above described. This mechanism includes a clutch actuator arm 60 centrally supported on atrans versely extending shaft 6I journalled in suitable bearings in the frame B. At one end of the 'actuator arm 80 is a yoke 62 engaging the sleeve 44 and atthe other end of this arm is a yoke 63 engaging the sleeve 45 so that outward or inward movement of the arm 60 causes corresponding movement of both sheaves I5 and I4 to engage or disengage their respective clutches. On the shaft 6I at the side of the frame remote from the arm 60 is mounted a collar 64 and a compression spring 65 acting on the collar and v against the frame B so as to urge the shaft '6I in an outward direction and the clutches out of engagement, in which position the sheaves disconnected from their drives are inoperative. Adjacent the rear end of the shaft 6I and extending transversely thereto, is a freely rotatable rod 66 including an upwardly extending finger 61 operative to engage the inner end of the shaft 6I. On the end of the rod 66 remote from the finger 61 is a downwardly extending control arm 68, preferably of the conformation indicated, and adapted for engagement with the arm I9 on the drop plate 20 of the Winder frame. Normally the arm I9 forces the control arm 68 4in an outward direction causing the finger 61 to engage the shaft 6I and move it inwardly against lthe urge of the spring 65 so as to force the clutch faces into engagement and connect the -sheaves I5 and I4 with their respective drive shafts. When the drop plate drops the clutch actuator arm I8 is released by the drop plate arm I9 so that the sheave clutches become disengagedunder the urge of the 'spring 65 to disconnect the sheaves I4 and I5 from their respective drives. An auxiliary manual clutch actuator lever 10 is fulcrumed on a pin 1I and has a portion 12 engaging with the collar 64, and a handle portion 13. The clutches may be rendered operative or inoperative by manipulation of this lever.

The drive connections Mechanism is provided fo/r driving each of theA f gear 3i, and extending downwardly to adjacent a horizontal drive shaft 82. Similarly, `journalle'cl in bearings 18 supported in brackets 18, 19a, a'

vertical connecting shaft 85 extends downwardly from adjacent the shaft 33 and is provided at its upper end with a bevel gear 86 meshing with the bevel gear 34. The shaft 85 extends downwardly to adjacent a horizontal driven shaft 8 1. 'I'he shafts 82 and 81 are partially supported by bearings 86a and 81a carried by the brackets and extend the length of the machine, and are adapted to drive the vertical connecting shafts of several cord conditioning units similarl to the unit described. p On the shaft 82 is keyed a bevel gear 88 meshing with a bevel gear 89 on the shaft and on the shaft 81 is keyeda bevel gear 80 meshing with a bevel gear 8l on the shaft 85.

The shaft 82 extends through to the end of the Winder frame and carries adjacent this end a drive pulley I00 having a drlve'n connection with the main drive of the Winder. Inside the pulley |00 the shaft 86 carries a xedly mounted pinion IOI. 'I'he other horizontal drive shaft 81 extends through to -adjacent the end of the Winder. frame and carries on its end a ilxedly mounted pinion |02 spaced laterally from the' pinion IOI.. To impart definitely different speeds to each of the shafts 82 and 81 the pinion IOI meshes with a crown gear |03 and the pinion I02` meshes with a change gear I04, the crown gear and the change gear being xedly mounted on a common stub shaft |05 suitably borne by a radial bracket |06 mounted on a boss I01 so journalled 'on the shaft 82 that the change gear is controlled by the crown gear. The Abracket |06 is adjusted radially through an arm I01 having a connection with it and with the frame B.

Through the mechanism described, the top sheave I5 receives its drive directly through a gear connection' from the shaft 82 while the bottom sheave I4 receives its drive from the same shaft 82 through the crown and change gear arrangement just described. The change gear I04 is smaller than the crown gear |03, bearing a denite ratio thereto, whereby the sheave I4 is driven slower than the sheaveI I5.

Respective coverings IIO and III are provided for/ the shafts 80 and 85. Boxes II2 and II3 cover the gears 88 and 88, 90 and 8| respectively. These covers and boxes give the apparatus a iinished appearance and serve to prevent undesirq able access to the working parts.v

Operation In operating the apparatus, of which the structural features have been described, the cord is threaded in the manner already referred to and illustrated, about the respective sheaves and pulleys of the unit A and lead to the package P onV the Winder. The cord may, of course, be threaded in other ways, as for instance, inv reverse curves from sheave to sheave but the presently illustrated manner has been fondmost practical for the purposes described. The cord lrst becomes gripped as it passes on to the rst groove 46 of the feeding sheave I4 and is thus drawn into the a-pparatus, the-various lappings of the cord being subjected to the action of surfaces of increasing speed as` they pass about portions of the grooves 46a and 46b. Then the cord passes to the rst groove 41 of the sheave I5 and is subjected to the action of surfaces of gradually increasing speeds as its various lappings pass about portions of the grooves 41a and l41?). it

`is finally drawn off on to the packagefP.

The resultant effect is that tension is set up in the cord from the time it becomes gripped by the first groove 46 and until the time it leaves the last groove 41h. This tension is set up by the increasing speed between the sheaves and is accentuated by the increasing groove diameters. 3: As a result, the cord reacts in exerting upon the sheave I5 a positive dri e and on the sheave I4 a braking effect. The cl tch faces on the sheaves and their respective shafts are oppositely arranged to grip accordingly.

It has been found that the cord is under positive control from the time it is engaged by the first groove until the time it leaves the last groove. 'Ihis is apparently due to the particular V-shape of the grooves themselves, of the respectively in- 15 creasing diameters and of the difference in speed between the respective sheaves. Positive regulation of the amount of' tension exerted upon the cord is arrived at by adjustment of the respective sheave speeds through the change gear |04.

It is important to note that this degree of tension is unaffected by exterior conditions beyond control, such as for instance the state of the atmosphere, vwhich has a very marked effect on Vweight-operated apparatus. The path of the cord 254s relatively simple, rendering the threading of the apparatus quite easy and thus eliminating time-consuming operations associated with the more complicated cord treating methodsin vogue. The stopping and starting of the sheave is autoference with any other unit.

Various modifications may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that onlysuch limitations shall be placedthereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A cord stretching apparatus, comprising in combination, a single driven cord advancing sheave and a singlecord retarding sheave, both sheaves being of substantial circumference to provide a lengthy gripping surface, aseries of parallel V-shaped grooves in the periphery of each sheave each for receiving a successive lap of cord, the sheaves being arranged in series with the groove of largest circumference of the retarding sheave being in a position Ato delivercord to the groove of smallestvcircumference of the advancing sheave, idler means for guiding the cord in a plurality of parallel laps about the retarding sheave, separate idler means for guiding the cord in a plurality of parallel laps about the advancing ing sheave at apredetermined peripheral speed, a geared connection betweenr the advancing sheave and the retarding sheave for causing the latter to rotate at a predetermined slower speed than the advancing-sheave, said cord being delivered from said retardingsheave to said advancing sheave and being stretched during such delivery, the successive ,grooves of each sheave being of slightly increased effective diameter whereby sufficient tension is set up between the respective laps on each sheave to cause the cord to be forced against the surface of the grooves and to be gripped firmly therebywithout stretching it addi- -matic for each preparing unit A without inter-I sheave, means for causing rotation of the advanctionally to any appreciable extent and means for feeding cord to the retarding sheave and for re-` ceiving cord from the advancing sheave.

2. A cord stretching apparatus, comprising in` combination, a single driven cord advancing sheave and a single cord'retarding sheave, both sheaves being lof substantial circumference to providev a lengthy Agripping surface, a series of parallel \{shaped grooves in the periphery of each sheave for receiving successive laps of cord, idler means for guiding the cord in a plurality of parallel laps about the retarding sheave, idler means for guiding the cord in a plurality of parallel laps about the advancing sheave, a drive connection for rotating the advancing sheave at a predetermined peripheral speed, a geared connection between the advancing sheave and the retarding sheave for causing the latter to rotate at a predetermined slower speed than the advancing sheave, said cord being delivered from said retarding sheave to said advancing sheave and being stretched during such delivery, the successive groovesY of each sheave being of slightly increased effective diameter whereby tension is set up between the respective laps on each sheave causing the cord to be forced against the surface of the grooves and to be gripped firmlythereby, means for feeding cord to the retarding sheave and for receiving cord from the advancing sheave.

3. A cord stretching apparatus, comprising in combination, a frame, a pair of stub shafts mounted in said frame, a cord advancing sheave mounted on one of said shafts for free rotation, a cord retarding sheave mounted on the other shaft for free rotation and limited axial movement thereupon, a drive shaft, driving connections between the drive shaft and the advancing stub shaft, a speed reducing geared connection between the advancing stub shaft and the retarding stub shaft whereby the speed of rotation of the retarding shaft bears a predetermined ratio to that of the advancing shaft, clutch means including ratchet teeth faced in one direction to cause driving engagement between the advancing stub shaft' and its sheave,` clutch means including ratchet teeth faced in the opposite direction to cause a retarding engagement between the retarding stub shaft and its sheave, both sheaves being of substantial circumference to provide a lengthy gripping surface, a series of parallel V- shaped grooves in the periphery of each sheave for receiving successive laps of cord, idler means for guiding the cord in a plurality of parallel laps about the retarding sheave, separate idler means for guiding the cord in aplurality of parallel laps about the advancing sheave, said cord being delivered from said retarding sheave to said delivery sheave and being stretched in said delivery,

JOHN GREEN 

